Workplace Safety For The Right Reasons

Human beings make decisions about safety every moment of every day. Most of the time we make these decisions without actually giving them much thought – speeding through a yellow traffic light, standing on a chair instead of a ladder, texting while driving a motor vehicle. Dale Lesinksi, Vice President, DiVal Safety Equipment, shared a different approach to workplace safety with 70 local employers and safety managers at the Orrville Area Safety Council’s (OASC) lunch and learn program August 10. The meeting was held at The University of Akron Wayne College in Orrville.

According to Lesinski, there are four reasons that cause accidents, environment, training, procedures and behavior. Of these four, behavior is by far the leading contributor to injuries and accidents in the workplace.

“The fact is we as humans are not wired to be safe,” stated Lesinski. “That is why the conventional approach to employee safety often delivers meager results. The only way to get employees to value their own safety is to make it about them.”

Lesinski used humor, audience participation and real-world situations to motivate attendees to value their own personal safety and watch out for others. He asked everyone to think of four people that you would never want to see hurt. These four people are the “Right Reasons” to put safety first – the people in your life that are counting on you to come home each day.

“We need to be safe ourselves because our actions or inactions affect those four people,” Lesinski explained. “Remind your team members of the four people they have in their lives who are the reasons why they need to be safe.”

Every attendee received a magnet picture frame with the Safe 4 The Right Reasons slogan on the border. Lesinski asked everyone to find a picture of the 4 people you want to be safe for and place the magnet in your work area as a reminder.

The OASC meets on the second Wednesday of each month for a lunch and learn program at The University of Akron Wayne College, Student Life Building.

Orange Circle Sponsors for the FY23 Program Year which began in July include: Bekaert, McElroy Packaging, Orrvilon and P.Graham Dunn. Additional Black Circle Sponsorship support from MARS Horsecare, Orr Construction, OrrVilla Retirement Community, JAG Healthcare Orrville Pointe, and Preferred Airparts.

The OASC is sponsored by the Orrville Area Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Division of Safety & Hygiene and Massillon WestStark Chamber of Commerce, to provide Ohio employers with access to occupational safety and health, workers’ compensation and risk management education, networking, and resource sharing.



The next OASC meeting will be September 14. The Impact of Slips, Trips and Falls will be the program topic. Visit www.orrvillesafety.com​​ for information and to register.